Charging of horizontal coke ovens

ABSTRACT

IN a horizontal coke oven battery having a single collecting main, with ascension pipes connecting the ovens to the main and with the ovens equipped with lidded breeches pipe connections near their ends remote from the ascension pipe, a breeches pipe carriage moves along a track extending between parking areas beyond each end of the battery and running adjacent to the breeches pipe connections. The carriage includes a breeches pipe with means for adjusting the same relative to the carriage to establish communication between a nearby pair of the connections and means for handling the lids of the connections. Coupling means are provided on the breeches pipe carriage and on the charging car for coupling the carriage to the car in either one of two relative positions in the direction of movement; such positions being spaced apart by the distance between adjacent connections. Actuating means are provided adjacent each parking area for actuating the coupling means to uncouple the breeches pipe carriage from the charging car upon approach to a parking area.

290 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 L. F. KING Aug. 20, 1974 CHARGING OF HORIZONTAL COKE OVENS Filed Dec. 19 1972 3 l 2 w r0 6 IM w w 3 3 g 2 F F w ,0 m 2 w 1 bb 9 n a I I. L /27 2 lu l .l W QQ/L E m, :A Q g h w 2 1 I 1 9 J 5 2U 3 l H| l Z 49 H v 0 wuuwnmwfllmwlwml m -ia 4 .J 0 i V 1: 3

Aug. 20, 1974 L. F. KING CHARGING OF HORIZONTAL COKE OVENS 3 Sheets-Sheet f- Filed Dec. 19, 1972 FIG. 7

as cl. 202- 2 3 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In a horizontal coke oven battery having a single collecting mainpwith ascension pipes connecting the ovens to the main'a'nd with the ovens equipped with lidded breeches pipeconnections near their ends remote from the ascension pipe, a breeches pipe carriage moves along a'track extending between parking areas beyond each end of the battery and running adjacent to the breeches pipe connections. The carriage includes a breeches pipe with means for adjusting the same relative to the carriage to establish communication between a nearby pair of the connections and 'meanslfor handling the lids of the connections. Coupling nie'ans are provided on the breeches pipe carriage and 'on the charging car for coupling the carriage to the car in 'either one of two relative positions inthe direction of movement; such positions being spaced apart by, the. distance between adjacent connections. Actuating means are provided adjacent each parking area for actuating the coupling means to uncouple the breeches pipe carriage from the charging car upon approach to a parking area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention concerns the charging of the ovens of horizontal coke'oven batteries.

Horizontal coke ovens are usually charged through charging holes in-the roof of antoven, the charge of coal for an oven being transported thereto from a bunker, usually disposed near one end of the battery or between a pair of batteries, by means of a charging car having hoppers equal in numb'erto the charging holes in the roof of each individual oven and dimensioned so as between them to hold'one complete oven charge. The charging car runs on suitable rails on the battery roof and may or may. not be equippedwith drop sleeves or telescopic trunks-adapted to belqwered on to the charging holes to convey coal ,from the hoppers to the latter with minimum spillage and/or escape of charging gases (the gas and vapor evolved when the ,coal enters the hot oven). The charging-fear may or may not also be equipped with mechanicallid-handling means for removing and replac ing the charging hole lids.

The escape of charging gases into the atomsphere, es pecially vwhen such gases are accompanied by entrained coal dust, is a very serious source of atmospheric pollution. and considerable effort has. been made by the industry to, abate this nuisance by adoption of various expedients all aimed at minimizing the escape of charging gases.

It should be recalled that during coking of a coal charge in a horizontal coke oven, the gas space at the head of the oven is connected to at least one gas off-take or collecting main in which a reduced pressure is maintained so that gas is withdrawn from the oven gas space into the collecting main(s).

The volume of the charging gases (which includes the air displaced from an oven chamber by the incoming coal charge) and the rate at which these gases are evolved depends upon a number of factors including the nature of the coal, its water content and its average particle size, as well as the rate at which it enters the oven. In general, however, the charging gases will be evolved more rapidly than they can be drawn oil into the collecting main( s) by the normal suction available at the oven gas space due to the reduced pressure in such main(s), and one common expedient for reducing the escape of charging gases is the provision of steam or gas injectors in the ascension pipes which connect the gas spaces of the ovens to the collecting main(s); the injector associated with the, or each ascension pipe of an individual oven being operated during the charging of that oven so as to increase the flow of charging gases from that oven to the collecting main(s). However the success of this expedient in preventing escape of charging gases to the atmosphere depends upon the maintenance of open communication between all parts of the gas space of an oven being charged and the ascension pipe(s) connected to the gas space of that oven.

The escape of charging gas is usually most likely to occur during the latter part of the charging operation when the oven is substantially full and, in particular, during the period immediately preceding levelling of the charge in the oven by operation of a leveller bar, since in this period (and during the early part of the levelling operation) there are mounds of coal under the charging holes and one at least of these mounds will usually be as high as the oven roof, occluding the gas space.

When the battery has two collecting mains, one extending along each side thereof and connected to each oven gas space through an ascension pipe, so that each oven gas space is connected at both of its ends to a collecting main, the problem of charging gas escape during the said critical period may be largely overcome by suitable control of the rate and sequence of coal introduction through the charging holes in the roof of an oven: see for instance the specification of UK. Pat. No. 909,809. However the problem is more acute in the case of batteries having a single collecting main with ascension pipes connected to one end only of each oven gas space, and although much can be done to mitigate the problem in such cases-for instance as explained in the aforementioned patent-there are circumstances in which complete avoidance of the escape of charging gases cannot be achieved by withdrawing charging gases through a single ascension pipe at one end of the oven gas space.

Because in the normal course of events an oven being charged is situated adjacent to at least one oven in which coking has progressed to a substantial extent so that its gas production rate is well below the off-take capacity of its ascension pipe(s), it has been proposed in the case of batteries having a single collecting main to utilize the available gas off-take capacity of an adjacent oven for withdrawal of some of the charging gases of the oven being charged. For this purpose, each oven gas space is provided, at the end remote from its ascension pipe, with a connection for a so-called breeches pipe which is of inverted U-shape and adapted for coupling adjacent breeches pipe connections so as to interconnect the gas spaces of a pair of neighboring ovens when one of these is being charged.

Generally, where this expedient is adopted, the breeches pipe is mounted on an overhead track, being manually moved along this and manipulated as required for coupling and uncoupling pairs of breeches pipe connections by one of the battery topmen. In other installa tions, the breeches pipe has been suspended on the charg ing car in a manner permitting its manual maneuvering, by a battery topman, for coupling and uncoupling breeches pipe connections.

The present-day trend is towards greater mechanization and indeed automation of operation of coking plant, and a consequent reduction in the number of operatives; using machinery to perform tasks previously performed manually, is a typical example of this trend. However, mechanization of the operation of a breeches pipe has not so far been considered practicable. Thus, arranging the breeches pipe on the charging car in a position and in a manner permitting mechanized maneuvering thereof will usually be precluded by space limitations, particularly in an existing plant, by reason of lack of clearance between the charging car and the coal bunker to which it moves between each charging operation. There is also the problem that a breeches pipe mounted on the charging car must be capable of selectively coupling the breeches pipe connection of the oven being charged with that of either of the adjacent ovens; an arrangement permitting coupling with the breeches pipe connection of the oven on one side only of that being charged being unsuitable for charging one of the end ovens of the battery.

An object of the present invention is to provide for mechanization of the operation of a breeches pipe in a manner avoiding the aforesaid. difficulties and, particularly, in a manner applicable to an existing coke oven battery installation.

In accordance with the present invention, a horizontal coke oven battery having a single collecting main at one side thereof connected by ascension pipes to the corresponding end of each oven, and its ovens equipped with lidded breeches pipe connections near their ends remote from the ascension pipes, is characterized by a breeches pipe carriage movable on a track extending between parking areas beyond each end of the battery and running adjacent to said breeches pipe connections, said carriage including a breeches pipe with means for adjusting the same relatively to the carriage to establish communication between a nearby pair of said connections, and means for handling the lids of said connections; cooperative coupling means on said breeches pipe carriage and on the charging car for coupling said carriage to the charging car in either of two relative positions in the direction of motion thereof, said positions being spaced apart by the distance between adjacent said connection; actuating means adjacent to each said parking area for actuating said coupling means to uncouple the breeches pipe carriage from the charging car upon approach to a parking area, and conversely; and control means on said charging car for actuating said breeches pipe adjustment means and said lid-handling means on said breeches pipe carriage when the latter is coupled to the charging car.

With a battery equipped in this manner, movement of the breeches pipe carriage along the battery into position for interconnecting the gas space of an oven being charged with that of its neighbor is accomplished by the motion of the charging car into position for charging an oven, the breeches pipe carriage being coupled to the charging car during oven charging so that suitable power operated mechanisms constituting the means for adjusting the breeches pipe and the means for handling (that 1s, removing and subsequently replacing) the breeches pipe connection lids may be controlled by the charging car operator. However, the breeches pipe carriage is automatically uncoupled from the charging car and left in a parking area at the end of its track when the charging car moves towards the bunker for replenishment of its hoppers aftergsa charging operation.

It should be understood that with the charging car in position for charging an oven, the breeches pipecarriage will be so located by the coupling means as to pos1t1on one end of the breeches pipe adjacent to' the breeches pipe connection of that oven and the other end of the breeches pipe adjacent to the breeches pipe connection of the nelghboring oven, one side or the other depending upon WhlCh of the two available positions of coupling between the breeches pipe carriage and the charging car is' selected.

- upon approaching the battery'from'the end thereof remote. from the bunker, the breeches pipe carriage is' suitably" The arrangement of the coupling means 1s preferably such that ,whenthe charging car moves towards the b t; tery from the bunker, and, in passing the parking area at that end of the battery, becomes coupled to the breeches pipe carriage, the latter is suitably positioned for 'chargmg of the adjacent end oven or any other oven of the battery except the remote end'oven; whilst, when the chargmg car couples with the breeches pipe carriage upon.ap proaching the battery from the endthereof remotefrom the bunker, the breeches pipe carriage is suitably'p osb tioned for charging of the end oven or ariyother oven of the battery except the remote endoven;-while;-when* the charging car couples with thebreeches pipe carriage pling jaw mechanism on the charging car and a pairof stanchions or the like onthe breeches pipe carriage; the latter being spaced apart by a distance equal to the aration of adjacent breeches pipe connections, the said actuating means being arranged to 'causefsaid coupling jaws to engage the first. stanchion encountered by said jaws when the charging car approaches the breeches pipe carriage. I I I I I Conveniently the breeches pipe adjusting'means and the lid-handling means on the breeches pipe carriage are electrically operated, power to these means being transmitted between the charging car and the breeches pipe carriage when coupled to the latter via. conductor rails on the one and collector shoes on the other; this arrangement con} veniently permitting the transfer of electrical power between the two in either of the two permitted positions of coupling thereof. I r

As an alternative to mechanical coupling means such as coupling jaws and stanchions, the coupling means may be magnetic and comprise, for instance, a suitable electromagnet on the charging car and a pair of spaced-apart armatures on the breeches pipe carriage. I

The said actuating means conveniently comprise a ramp disposed adjacent to the path of the charging car near each said parking area and adapted to-be engaged by an appropriate member on the charging car to actuate the coupling means thereon. In the case, for instance, of mechanical coupling means involving coupling jaws on the charging car, the said ramp may be arranged to engage a jawoperating member whereas in the case of magnetic coupling means said ramp could be arranged to actuate a suitable switch member. a

BRIEF DEscRrmoN 0F DRAWINGS I A typical embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic planvi'ew of 'a' horizontal coke oven battery equipped in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a part-sectional plan view of coupling jaws fitted to the charging car of theinstallation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partly schematic front elevation of the coupling jaws ofFIG. 2 I I i FIG. 4 is a section on line IVIV of 2;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the breeches pipe carriage of the installation; I I

FIG. 6 is an end elevation of the breeches'pipecarriage and a schematic representation of thecharging" car and partof the battery; and v 7 is a fragmentary plan of the breeches pipe' carriage. v v

. DETAILED DESCRJPTION In this illustrated embodiment of theinvention, a horizontal coke oven battery 1 is equipped for breeches pipe operation with breeches pipe connections 2, 2a and 2b'to the gas spaces of the ovens at the ends thereof remote from the collecting main, as well as the usual charging holes 3. In accordance with the invention, the battery has a track 4 arranged to extend the length of the battery above the line, of (said breechespipe connections 2. At each -end of ,thefbattery, this track 4 extends to a parking area, terminated by buflers 5.

In the usual Way, a charging car 6 runs on rails 7 on the roof, of the battery 1, atone end the rails extending to a bunker installation 8 from which the charging car hoppers are filled .prior to each oven charging operation. At the other end of the battery, the charging car rai-ls 7 extend a short ,distance beyond the termination of the parking area at that end of the breeches pipe carriage track 4. The chargingcar 6 is desirably fitted with all the usual equipment for mechanized .operation: that is to say, it maybe fitted with. charging hole lid-handling mechanism formechanized'reinoval and subsequent replacement of charging hole lids; power actuated mechanism for lowering any drop sleeves or trunks with which its hopper outlets maybe fitted; vibrators for the coal hoppers; mechanical feeders and suitable controls for all these devices including, if desired, a program device for actuating the various mechanisms in the required sequence with only supervision by the operator. The charging car may also be fitted with remote controls for. ascension pipe injector valves so that the charging car operator can actuate these valves when required. The usual interlocks are provided to ensure correct and safe operational sequences.

In accordance with the invention, the charging car 6 is also fitted with coupling-means comprising a pair of coupling jaws 9 arranged at the end of the car adjacent to ,the breeches pipe carriage track 4. The jaws 9 are illustrated in detail in FIGS. 2 to 4 and, as will be explained,;are adapted to be actuated by a member depending from the underside of .the charging car so as to be engaged by a ramp disposed alongside one of the charging car rails 7 in the vicinity of each parking area of the breeches pipe carriage track 4.

The charging c-ar6 is also fitted, at the same end thereof as the coupling jaws. 9, with a set of parallel conductor rails-10 extending in thedirection of movement of the car. on its rails 7 and having length somewhat greater. than the inter-oven spacing.

A breeches pipe carriage 11 is movable along the track 4 and is equipped with a breeches pipe 12 suspended on a linkage that enablesnit to be raised and lowered by means of a suitable electrically powered actuator. The breeches, pipe 12 is so .located as to have its limb axes in the vertical plane, containing 'the axes of the breeches pipe connections 2 of the ovens; whereby, it may be caused to interconnect an adjacent pair of the connections 2 by simple vertical motion of the breeches pipe 12 when the carriage 11 is appropriately positioned along the t a k 4 The breeches pipe connections 2 have closure lids in the-usual way and-the breeches pipe carriage 11 is pro vided with magnetic lid-handling mechanisms arranged for removing and replacing the lids of a pair of breeches pipe connections 2 to be interconnected by the breeches pipe 12. The. actuators for raising and lowering the breeches pipe and maneuvering the lid-handling'magnets, are connected individually to collector shoes 13 positioned on the bleeches pipe carriage 11. to engage the said conductor rails 10 on the charging car when the carriage 11 is coupled to the latter.

The breeches pipe carriage 11 is also equipped with a pair of stanchions 14, 1'5 constituting coupling means to be engaged by the coupling jaws 9 on the charging car 6. One-said stanchion, 14 is so positioned on the carriage 11 that, when engaged by the coupling jaws 9 the breech pipe 12, it is so located relatively to the charging car 6 that; when the latter is positioned for charging an oven of the battery, one end of the breeches pipe 12 will be positioned directly over the breeches pipe connection 2 of that oven and the other end of the breeches pipe will be located over the breeches pipe connection 2 of the adjacent oven more remote from the bunker 8. The other said stanchion 15 is so located that, when engaged by the coupling jaws 9 and the charging car 6 is positioned over the same oven as previously considered, the breeches pipe 12 will be located to interconnect the gas space of the oven (through its connection 2) with that of the other adjacent oven; i.e. that nearer to the bunker 8. The two stanchions will, accordingly, be spaced apart in the direction of travel of the carriage 11 by a distance equal to the inter-oven spacing.

The said collector shoes 13 on the breeches pipe carriage 11 are located so that they will engage with the conductor rails 10 on the charging car when the coupling jaws 9 on the latter are engaged with either of the said stanchions 14 and 15.

The individual jaws 9a, 9b that together constitute the pair of jaws 9 are pivoted at 16 on individual sliders 17a, 17b movable in a housing 18, a guide bar 19a, 19b linking the extremity of the jaw to a guide bar slide 20a, 20b which is loaded by a spring 21a, 21b in a housing 22a, 22b to retain the jaw in an extended position, the sliders 17a, 17b being loaded by individual springs 23a, 23b for the same purpose. When the jaw is extended, it can be pushed back into the housing 18 or rocked in one direction about its pivot 16, so that a stanchion 14 or 15 on the carriage 1'1, approaching the jaws as a result of relative movement between the charging car 6 and carriage 11, will run on the guide bar 19a or 19b of the firstencountered jaw, depressing this into the housing 18 against the action of spring 23a or 23b, until the stanchion clears that jaw and permits it to move out behind the stanchion. If the other jaw is unlocked, continuation of the same relative movement between the car 6 and carriage 11 may occur, the stanchion 14 or 15 as the case may be rocking such other jaw about its pivot 16, against the action of spring 21b or 21a to move out from between the two jaws.

Each of the two jaws 9a, 9b is associated with an individual lock comprising a lock bar 24a, 24b movable in the housing 18 parallel with the slider 17a, 17b and having a pair of rollers 25, 26 for engaging, respectively, the tail of the associated jaw 9a or 9b and a reaction plate 27 within the housing 18. The lock bars 24a, 24b are urged by individual springs 28a, 28b towards the front of housing 18, into locking position in which the rollers 25, 26 engage the jaw tail and plate 27 to prevent the associated jaws from rocking on their pivot 16.

The lock bars 24a, 24b have manual release cables 29a, 29b respectively whereby each may be withdrawn against its spring 28a or 28b to unlock its associated jaw. Additionally, the lock bars 24a, 24b each have a nib 30a, 30b respectively for engagement by a roller 31 on the tail 32 of a cocking lever 33a, 33b pivoted in a release housing 34 and connected by a linkage 35a, 35b respectively to pivoted follower members 36a Or 36b arranged below the charging car 6 and positioned to be displacedby ramps 37 and--38 respectively-alongside one of the rails 7 adjacent to each parking area. i 1

The ramps 37 and 38 are disposed on opposite sides of the rail 7 so that only one of the follower members 36a, 36b is displaced as the car 6 passes the parking area at one end of the battery, the arrangement being such that, when the car 6 moves away from the battery the ramp-37 or 38, as the case may be, displaces the relevant member 36a or 36b to unlock the trailing jaw so as to release the carriage 11- When the car 6 passes a parking area as'it approaches the battery, it will be the leading jaw that is unlocked, but this does not alfect the freedom or otherwise of that jaw to deflect as a stanchion 14 or 15 moves thereover.

The arrangement of the coupling jaws 9 and stanchions 14 and 15 is thus such that when the charging car 6 approaches the battery and encounters the breeches pipe carriage 11 in the parking area at that end of the track 4, the coupling jaws engage with the firstencountered stanchion on the carriage 11 and cause the latter to travel with the charging car towards the battery, being secured to the car 6 in such a position that if the charging car were subsequently stopped in position for charging the first-encountered end oven of the battery, the breeches pipe 12 would be positioned for connecting, via the connection 2a or 2b, as the case may be, the gas space of that end oven to the next adjacent oven via its connection 2. It will be understood, therefore, that with this arrangement, when the charging car approaches the battery from the direction of the bunker 8 and picks up the breeches pipe carriage 11 then standing in the parking area at that end of the battery, the breeches pipe carriage 11 will automatically be coupled by stanchion 15 to the car 6 in suitable position for interconnecting the gas space of any oven of the battery, over which the charging car is positioned for charging, with that of the adjacent oven more remote from the bunker; in other words, if the ovens are regarded as being numbered consecutively from the bunker end of the battery, as indicated in FIG. 1, movement of the charging car from the bunker 8 to a position for charging the Nth oven of the battery will result in the breeches pipe 12 being antomatically positioned for interconnecting the gas space of that oven with that of the (N+1)th oven of the battery.

After any charging operation, when the charging car 6 moves back towards the bunker 8, the trailing coupling jaw 9a on the charging car will be unlocked as the charging car passes the parking area at that end of the battery, as a result of member 36a being displaced by ramp 37, thereby releasing the breeches pipe carriage 11 and enabling this to come to rest in the parking area, being arrested by the buifer stop if necessary.

When it is required to charge the end oven remote from the bunker 8, the charging car 6, when moving from the bunker 8 with the oven charge in the usual way, will pick up stanchion 15 of the breeches pipe carriage 11 but, of course, this is unsuitable for interconnecting the gas space of the remote end oven with that of its only adjacent oven when the charging car is positioned over such end oven. Accordingly, in this case, the charging car 6 is driven (with the breeches pipe carriage 11) be yond the end of the battery so as to release the breeches pipe carriage 11 in the parking area remote from the bunker (ramp 38 displacing follower member 36b to unlock the jaw 9b). Thereafter the charging car 6 is reversed so as to recouple with the breeches pipe carriage 11 but, this time, with the coupling jaws engaging the stanchion 14 so that, when the charging car 6 comes into position over the end oven, the breeches pipe 12 will now be positioned ready for connecting the gas space of that oven with that of its only neighbor. At the completion of this charging operation, when the charging car 6 returns once more to the bunker 8 for reloading, the breeches pipe carriage will be released and parked in the parking area nearer to the bunker ready to be picked up by the refilled charging car once again in a position suitable forcharging any oven of the battery other than the end oven remote'from the bunker end of the battery.

Suitable controls are provided on the charging car 6 and associated with the said conductor rails thereon, whereby the charging car operator can actuate the breeches pipe adjustment mechanism and the lid-handling mechanisms on the breeches pipe carriage 11; suitable interlocks may be provided to ensure the correct operation of these controls in relation to the other controls of the charging car.

Desirably the drive for propelling the charging car 6 along its rails 7 includes means for ensuring that the charging car is only travelling at low speed when passing adjacent to the parking area at either end of the track 4 for the breeches pipe carriage, so that the latter is only released from the charging car or picked up by the latter when the charging car is moving at a lowspeed. These means may, for instance, be actuated by the ramp 37 or 38 which actuates the coupling jaws on the charging car as this moves adjacent to a parking area.

1. In a horizontal coke oven battery having a charging car and a single collecting main at one side thereof connected by ascension pipes to" the'jcorre'spo'nding end lof each oven of said battery, and its'ovens' equipped with lidded breeches pipe connections near their-ends remote from the ascension pipes, the improvement-comprising: a breeches pipe carriage movable on a track extending between parking areas beyond each end ofthe battery and running adjacent to said breeches pipe connections, said carriage including a breeches pipe with" means for adjusting the same relatively to the carriage to establish communication between a nearbypair of said'connections, and means for handling the lids of said connections; cooperative coupling means on said breeches pipe carriage and on the charging car for coupling'said carriage to the charging car in either of two relative positions in'the direction of motion thereof, said positions being spaced apart by the distance between adjacent said connections; actuating means adjacentto each' said parking area for actuating said coupling means to couple and uncouple the breeches pipe carriage and the charging car upon approach to a parking area; and control means on said charging car for actuating said breeches'pipe adjustment means and said lid-handling means on said breeches pipe carriage when the latter is coupled to the charging car;

2. A horizontal coke oven battery according to Claim 1, including at least one bunker, wherein; the arrangement of the coupling means is such' that when the charging car moves towards the battery from a bunker and, in passing the parking area at that end of the battery, becomes coupled to the breeches pipe carriage, the latter is suitably positioned for charging of the adjacent end oven or any other oven of the battery except the remote end oven, whilst when the charging car couples with the breeches pipe carriage upon approaching the battery from the end thereof remote from the bunker, the breeches'pipe carriage is suitably positioned for charging ofthe end oven remote from the bunker. 1

3. A horizontal coke oven battery according to Claim 2, wherein; the coupling means comprises a coupling jaw mechanism on the charging car and a pair of stanchions on the breeches pipe carriage, the latter being spaced apart by a distance equal to theseparation of adjacent breeches pipe connections, the said actuating means being arranged to cause said coupling jaws to engage the first stanchion encountered by said jaws when the charging car approaches the breeches pipe carriage.

4. A horizontal coke oven battery according to Claim 1 wherein; the breeches pipe adjusting means and the lidhandling means on the breeches pipe carriage are electrically operated. i

5. A horizontal coke oven battery'according to Claim 2 wherein; the coupling means are magnetic and comprise a suitable electromagnet on the'charging car and a pair of spaced-apart armatures on-the breeches pipe carriage.

6. A horizontal coke oven battery according to Claim 1 wherein; said actuating means comprise a rampndisposed adjacent to the path of the charging car neareach said parking area and are adapted to beengaged by mappropriate member on the charging car to actuate the coupling means thereon. Y

7. A horizontal coke oven battery according to 'Claim 6,

wherein; said ramp is arranged to engage a jaw-operated member. v

8. A horizontal coke oven battery according to Claim 6, wherein; said ramplis arranged to actuate a. suitable switch member.

9. In a horizontal coke oven battery having a charging car and a single collecting main along one side thereof connected by ascension pipes to the corresponding end of ends of the ovens of such battery and lidded breeches pipe connections near the ends of the ovens remote from the ascension pipes, the improvement comprising: a breeches pipe carriage that is movable along one side of said battery adjacent said breeches pipe connections; a breeches pipe carried by said carriage, said pipe being adapted to connect to the breeches pipe connections of two adjacent ovens; means for connecting said breeches pipe to said adjacent ovens whereby when one of said adjacent ovens is charged with coal gases evolving from said oven pass through said breeches pipe into said adjacent oven and pass thence into said collecting main via the ascension pipe of said adjacent oven; and automatic means for coupling and uncoupling said breeches pipe to UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,855,191 4/1932 King 202263 1,485,914 3/1924 Greene 202-263 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,105,380 4/ 1961 Germany 202-263 WHJBUR L. BASCOMB, JR., Primary Examiner D. EDWARDS, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 214-18 PH; 

